In a compelling real twist to an already potent family drama, acclaimed actors Gary Webster will share the stage with his son Freddie Webster in “Blessings”, a new game of Sarah Shelton Opens at Riverside Studios this fall. The world premiere runs from September 30 to October 26, 2025, which marks Freddie’s professional stage debut in a production that already draws attention to its emotionally charged premise and Powerhouse Casting.
Made of artistic entertainment is “blessings” a dark humorous and gripping exploration of family, faith and long buried truths. The game is located in a small English city in the 1960s and centers on the deacon household, where veneer of Catholic respectability bursts under the importance of secrets, guilt and generational tension. When the family is reunited for Easter, hidden fractures are exposed and the question of looms: Is the truth worth the cost?
Gary Webster, best known for his roles in “Minders”, “Family Migrations” and decades of performances on British television, will take the role of Frank Deacon, the silent observant patriarch whose silence speaks volumes. In a poetic casting in parallel, his real son Freddie enters the role of Martin, Frank’s son in the piece and reflects the intergenerational themes in the heart of history.
“As soon as I read the piece” Blessings “by Sarah Shelton, I knew I wanted to,” said Gary Webster. “Working with a good script with such amazing actors is the reason I became an actor. To throw in the fact that I will work with my son Freddie at his professional theater debut makes this opportunity all the more exciting. I can’t wait to get started.”
Jane Slavin (“Call the Midwife”) who joins the WebSter as the commanding matriarch Dorie Deacon, Hannah TRAYLEN (“Boiling Point”) as the rebellious Frances, Milly Roberts as a sharp-heavy Penny and Freya Taylor-Lester as the observant young. The ensemble brings together experienced artists and rising talents to breathe life in Shelton’s blowing honest script.
Sarah Shelton, who also leads the production, initially debuted “blessings” in a shorter form during the Riverside Bitesize festival 2024 to enthusiastic response. The full length version promises to deepen even deeper into its exploration of family dynamics, generation trauma and the social expectations from a “respectable” household.
“Blessings” promises to be an exciting, emotionally layered theater event – both a burning criticism of the family’s facades and a deeply personal milestone for Websters. With previews starting September 30, the show generates early interest, not only for its story, but for the unique band it gives the stage.
Tickets are now for sale here, with performances running Tuesdays to Sundays at Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London (the location completely wheelchair available).
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